Lea Salonga reflected on what continues to excite her as an artist and how she keeps the magic of performing on stage alive decades into her career.
In an interview with Rico Hizon for ANC, the Tony award-winning performer shared that her enduring passion for her craft continues to fuel her longevity in the industry.
"I think it boils down to I really love what I do. I love storytelling, of course I love singing, and I like disappearing in roles. And as I've gotten older, you know, you move away from being the ingénue which is, it's fun, but not always the most interesting thing. Lucky are you if you really get a really cool role when you are that young and I've had the really good fortune getting to play some really wonderful roles as a younger person, but now that I'm older the roles have gotten more fun to play which means it's more fun to just really disappear and just immerse yourself in whatever it is you are playing. So yeah, I think it's really that. I love storytelling on stage. I love to sing," she remarked.
Lea began her international career when she starred as Kim in Miss Saigon on London's West End in 1989. She won the 1990 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. In 1991, she reprised the role on Broadway and won several awards, including a Tony Award.
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Lea offered a message filled with perspective and warmth.
"To fasten your seatbelt because it's gonna be quite a ride and not to dwell on anything, don't take it so seriously, it's fun, this is fun. And you will continue to keep having fun as long as you just keep the joy. Because when you talk to your younger self, like your teenage self, and teens have so much going on, the anxiety, you know, what if this happens? What if that happens?" she said. "You will only go through it at once. enjoy every bit of it."
In a past chat with her Request sa Radyo fellow headliner Dolly de Leon uploaded on the State of the Arts YouTube channel, Lea discussed how she was able to navigate well the stardom she experienced at such a young age.
She said: "I think it helps when the authority figures in your life never ever did the, 'Ang galing-galing mo,' because I've seen that happen to some of my contemporaries from childhood and that can mess you up because the real world is not that.
"And so I think because I wasn't treated with that kind of quote-unquote admiration from that young age, my entry into the real world, it felt more normal because I knew that no one was going to indulge this 18-year-old and if I needed a stern talking to, I would get one even when I was over there," she added.
Lea Salonga is set to star in the Manila production of Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular, which will run from January 20 to March 1.
She will portray Madame Thénardier. Lea previously played Éponine and Fantine in the Broadway production. She also reprised Éponine in the 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall and portrayed Fantine in the 25th Anniversary concert at The O2.